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California · Area of Critical Environmental Concern

Jawbone/Butterbredt

BLM found a natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value, a scenic value, a natural process and a historic value here, and its plan calls for special management. BLM's records place at least 10 active mining claims (and 15 more BLM lists as Under Review or Filed) and 26 rights of way inside the line today, and nine grazing allotments cover part of it. It covers 190,513 acres and was designated September 14, 2016, in the CDCA Plan, as amended by DRECP. In the plan's name, CDCA stands for California Desert Conservation Area and DRECP for Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan.

Acres190,513
DesignatedSep 14, 2016CDCA Plan, as amended by DRECP
BLM founda natural system, a wildlife resource, a cultural value, a scenic value, a natural process and a historic valueand found it important
Inside, at least45claims, rights of way and allotments, and 15 more claims BLM lists as Under Review or Filed

The line

Jawbone/Butterbredt
Mining claim, 2Claimant withheld by BLM, 8Under Review, 8Filed, 4Filed, claimant withheld, 3Right of way, 26
Ground: USGS The National Map, topographic tiles. Boundaries: BLM's own, read Oct 20, 2026. 44 marks are where BLM's own maps draw them; 7 claims are placed at the middle of the section their land description names, not at the stakes on the ground. Hover or tap one for its holder. The 9 grazing allotments below aren't marked.

Who holds the claims

At least 25 claims sit inside this line: 10 active and 15 filed and pending, 13 with a holder BLM names and 11 with a claimant BLM withholds under the Privacy Act. BLM lists 10 as Active, 8 as Under Review and 7 as Filed.

  • Names withheld by BLM (private individuals)11claims
  • Pacific Minerals Group LLC8claims
  • THE MCKINLEY FAMILY PLAN INC3claims
  • URBAN BROADCASTING CO INC1claim
  • Dower Agriculture Foundation1claim

BLM's mining rules list designated ACECs among the places where mining that disturbs the surface beyond casual use needs a plan of operations BLM approves. Exploration of five acres or less can go ahead on a notice instead.

The rights of way

26 rights of way sit inside the line. BLM files 23 under non-energy facilities and 3 under other energy facilities.

  • KERN COUNTY (California)3rights of way
  • LOS ANGELES, CITY OF (California) - DEPARTMENT WATER & POWER2rights of way
  • SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON CO2rights of way
  • CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION2rights of way
  • LOS ANGELES DEPT WATER & POWER REAL ESTATE SECT2rights of way

Grazing allotments

9 grazing allotments cover part of this line. Their permittees aren't named here yet.

  • Hansen Common72,147acres
  • Allotment USFS-GRZ-10042.01043229,229acres
  • Allotment USFS-GRZ-10028.01043228,647acres
  • Allotment USFS-GRZ-10054.01043217,677acres
  • Walker Pass West14,976acres

The nearest areas

Next to it

Mohave Ground Squirrel Area of Critical Environmental Concern and Eagles Flyway Area of Critical Environmental Concern touch the line.

More from BLM's California office

Every area BLM's California office holds

The proposed rule

A proposed rule, RIN 1004-AF53, would change how BLM drafts every land use plan, and how it designates ACECs like Jawbone/Butterbredt. The comment window hasn't opened: the proposed rule wasn't in the Federal Register at our last check. The Watch sends one email the day it prints.

The rule's abstract

The purpose of this rulemaking is to establish in regulations an updated process for the approval of the development, revision, amendment, and maintenance of land use plans, as provided for by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Additionally, this rulemaking will provide clarification of the process the BLM uses for designating Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.Unified Agenda entry for RIN 1004-AF53, Publication ID 2026, reginfo.gov (OMB OIRA), read Oct 18, 2026

Watch the ruleWhere the rule stands